The first of two atmospheric rivers inundated a large part of California on Wednesday night, with a second, more intense storm heading into the region in the coming days. With more than 20 million people under flood alerts across the state, Direct Relief is ready to respond to the needs of communities impacted by the adverse weather conditions.

In anticipation of the storms, Direct Relief is communicating with local authorities, healthcare facilities, and community organizations to assess needs and deploy resources accordingly. With its broad history of responding to emergencies and natural disasters, the organization is well-equipped to provide medical assistance, including essential medicines, first aid supplies, and other critical items to those affected by the storms.

Supporting Local Emergency Response Agencies

As part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to ensuring proper equipping of local emergency response organizations, Direct Relief, in coordination with the California Office of Emergency Services, has donated multiple emergency response vehicles which are being staged to respond to high-risk areas, including the Ventura County Sheriff’s office’s high-water Lenco Advanced Rescue Medevac vehicle.

The four-wheel-drive truck can traverse water and mud up to four feet deep and is equipped with specialized features designed specifically for water rescues. The vehicle has proven instrumental in navigating flooded terrain and reaching areas inaccessible by traditional vehicles over the past year, having supported emergency response with over a dozen rescues during the Port Hueneme flooding events in December 2023.

Direct Relief will continue to monitor the situation as it progresses over the coming days, and offer support as requested.